Thanks for the highlight, Betsy! I also love re-reading--just reread Ann (another one!) Goethe's Midnight Lemonade, which I first read in 1993. And I LOVE Ladder of Years--one of my top 10 favs of all time. Enjoy the season of your birthday!
I finish very few stories I start, but this doesn't mean some won't get finished and they'll become part of my canon. My reasons to come back and back again are similar to yours. I find being enriched is much easier because I'm older and find many things I missed on other go-arounds. Nothing surprising here . . .
My attention flags. More a function of me than the stories. The voice needs to be big, but really more important, I have to be in the right place at the right time. It's kind of enigmatic.
I recently had a terrific conversation about this topic here on Substack. Someone used the phrase "literary comfort food" which sparked a whole chat about whether you order the same thing off of menus. I am typically not a re-reader (there are exceptions) and usually order new things off of menus (there are exceptions). It's a fascinating thing I'd never thought to link before.
Ladder of years is one of my favorites! My family makes fun of me because I also love Pane e Tulipani - is there a pattern here? 😄 Happy birthday? I hope you got your package?
HBD Betsy! I'm currently reading The Savage Detectives, a book I've tried to read on two other occasions but the timing wasn't right. Hope I make it through this time!
Thanks, Jim, and kudos to you for going back to The Savage Detectives. I've started it twice, also. I love how Bolano writes sentences and paragraphs and moments but I am completely and utterly lost when I try to follow them through one of his novels. I will try again if you get through it this time.
The WaPo article in this post addresses the kinds of reading we do in every season of our lives. I often feel that I am running out of time to read all the books I want to which, I think, leads to the tension I sometimes feel when I go back to a book I've read before.
As children, we read and re-read the same books. I can't count the number of times I read Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne. I first read The Well of Loneliness at age 10. I read it again at age 33 when I came out. I fell in love with The Dollmaker by Harriet Simpson Arnot and read it every November for about six years in y 30s. I've re-read all of Sandra Scoppettone's Lauren Laurano's mystery series for her humor, and Barbara Neely's Blanche White series because I love it. Ann Petry's The Street is one I've re-read, P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster series is one I just loved in my 20's, read the all one after the other. I loved the language, the character of Jeeves, the setting, the era. I re-read them a few years ago and was less entranced, but they were great for me in the 1960s. Poetry, of course, especialy Dickinson, Oliver, and Andrea Gibson. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, filled with love and joy.
In the Jewish religion... we read and re read every year the Torah.... The same words, stories, every year for an entire year. And every year we can find ourselves in a different place, and so we interpret the weekly parshiot with new eyes and new mindset.
The yearly re-reading of a single text must be very interesting, allowing you to chart your own understanding and growth over the years. Are there other books you also re-read?
I recently reread A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. And I’m certain I’ll read it again in the future. It’s my favorite book because it was the first book I’ve read that made me realize how expansive and inventive the genre of memoir could be.
I loved that book and often thought I would return to it. I haven't yet. I have, however, read lots of Eggers' other work. His is a sensibility and a voice that pulls me in again and again.
He has such great range too. I love that he can exist as a successful writer across many different genres and styles of writing. Something to aspire to for me.
I'm a frequent rereader, in part because my library and purchasing habits can't keep up with my reading speed. Rereads include Ursula K. LeGuin's books, Craig Johnson, Jane Austen, Ivan Doig, John Steinbeck, C.J. Cherryh....
I'm struck by the idea that your acquisition of new books can't keep up with your reading pace. Ursula LeGuin is a writer I'd like to read more of and I've been long thinking it is time to reread some of Austen. I've got Steinbeck on my shelf waiting for re-reads. The last one of his that I read again was East of Eden and I've gone back to sections of The Grapes of Wrath a few times but the book of his that I am most interested in revisiting these days is the journal he kept while writing a novel and the correspondence with his editor.
Happy Birthday! Beautiful photo. I reread poetry, mostly Mary Oliver and collections by James Crews. I rewatch movies. This week we saw Wes Anderson’s new film. I don’t usually fully understand everything the first time. I also rewatch shows that make me laugh. I reread children’s books so they are a part of me. I might try rereading some of my fav books, but my TBR pile is high, and I’m currently Wanted at the library for taking a wee bit too long on the too many books I checked out.
I reread books often. I have reread everything by Jane Austen and Will Cather, some multiple times. Newer books I've read at least three times include Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, and Three Junes by Julia Glass (I highly recommend the audiobook of this title!).
As to why I think it can be for any of your well elucidated reasons, but most often it is number 1. Some books are like comfort food, I know why they taste like and, more importantl, how they make me feel, and I crave that feeling.
I reread your novel Casualties, and will definitely reread it again.
One new books I've read and just know I'll read again is Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes, because it was so densely packed with Hawaiian history and culture that even as I was gulping it down I was wanting to go back for seconds. Yeah, I'm a big eater, so this metaphor works.
I will be curious to see how many of our fellow Sparkers (Sparklers? ) like to reread books they love, and will no doubt add to my TBR list.
I've read Bel Canto a few times. The opening is one of my favorites ever. Yes, sometimes books are comfort food and that's why I go back to them but lately I'm noticing my choices have to do with seeing if the story has changed for me.
And you're right. It's good to see what people re-read. You never know when you are going to discover a new/old book.
Thanks for the highlight, Betsy! I also love re-reading--just reread Ann (another one!) Goethe's Midnight Lemonade, which I first read in 1993. And I LOVE Ladder of Years--one of my top 10 favs of all time. Enjoy the season of your birthday!
Happy Birthday, Betsy!
Thank you, PJ!
I love rereading. Sometimes for comfort. Sometimes to calm me and to remember characters I love.
Yes, after a few readings, those characters are like friends or, sometimes, family.
I finish very few stories I start, but this doesn't mean some won't get finished and they'll become part of my canon. My reasons to come back and back again are similar to yours. I find being enriched is much easier because I'm older and find many things I missed on other go-arounds. Nothing surprising here . . .
Why do you finish only a few stories that you start, do you think?
My attention flags. More a function of me than the stories. The voice needs to be big, but really more important, I have to be in the right place at the right time. It's kind of enigmatic.
Just started Ladder of Years last night!
Let me know what you think!
I recently had a terrific conversation about this topic here on Substack. Someone used the phrase "literary comfort food" which sparked a whole chat about whether you order the same thing off of menus. I am typically not a re-reader (there are exceptions) and usually order new things off of menus (there are exceptions). It's a fascinating thing I'd never thought to link before.
https://createmefree.substack.com/p/if-you-re-read-books-do-you-also
Thank you for sharing this, Kathryn!
You are beautiful in this photo, Betsy. Happy birthday! Celebrate well and long.
Ladder of years is one of my favorites! My family makes fun of me because I also love Pane e Tulipani - is there a pattern here? 😄 Happy birthday? I hope you got your package?
I was just going to write you! Yes, I received it and it's like Christmas in July
HBD Betsy! I'm currently reading The Savage Detectives, a book I've tried to read on two other occasions but the timing wasn't right. Hope I make it through this time!
Thanks, Jim, and kudos to you for going back to The Savage Detectives. I've started it twice, also. I love how Bolano writes sentences and paragraphs and moments but I am completely and utterly lost when I try to follow them through one of his novels. I will try again if you get through it this time.
Happy birthday! 🥳
I used to re-read more as a child and teenager, as an adult I just feel that I have so much new things to read and not enough time!
Maybe it’s something to add back to my life.
The WaPo article in this post addresses the kinds of reading we do in every season of our lives. I often feel that I am running out of time to read all the books I want to which, I think, leads to the tension I sometimes feel when I go back to a book I've read before.
As children, we read and re-read the same books. I can't count the number of times I read Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne. I first read The Well of Loneliness at age 10. I read it again at age 33 when I came out. I fell in love with The Dollmaker by Harriet Simpson Arnot and read it every November for about six years in y 30s. I've re-read all of Sandra Scoppettone's Lauren Laurano's mystery series for her humor, and Barbara Neely's Blanche White series because I love it. Ann Petry's The Street is one I've re-read, P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster series is one I just loved in my 20's, read the all one after the other. I loved the language, the character of Jeeves, the setting, the era. I re-read them a few years ago and was less entranced, but they were great for me in the 1960s. Poetry, of course, especialy Dickinson, Oliver, and Andrea Gibson. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, filled with love and joy.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Sandra. You've read and re-read extensively so you know exactly what I'm talking about and wondering about.
In the Jewish religion... we read and re read every year the Torah.... The same words, stories, every year for an entire year. And every year we can find ourselves in a different place, and so we interpret the weekly parshiot with new eyes and new mindset.
The yearly re-reading of a single text must be very interesting, allowing you to chart your own understanding and growth over the years. Are there other books you also re-read?
I recently reread A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. And I’m certain I’ll read it again in the future. It’s my favorite book because it was the first book I’ve read that made me realize how expansive and inventive the genre of memoir could be.
I loved that book and often thought I would return to it. I haven't yet. I have, however, read lots of Eggers' other work. His is a sensibility and a voice that pulls me in again and again.
He has such great range too. I love that he can exist as a successful writer across many different genres and styles of writing. Something to aspire to for me.
I'm a frequent rereader, in part because my library and purchasing habits can't keep up with my reading speed. Rereads include Ursula K. LeGuin's books, Craig Johnson, Jane Austen, Ivan Doig, John Steinbeck, C.J. Cherryh....
I'm struck by the idea that your acquisition of new books can't keep up with your reading pace. Ursula LeGuin is a writer I'd like to read more of and I've been long thinking it is time to reread some of Austen. I've got Steinbeck on my shelf waiting for re-reads. The last one of his that I read again was East of Eden and I've gone back to sections of The Grapes of Wrath a few times but the book of his that I am most interested in revisiting these days is the journal he kept while writing a novel and the correspondence with his editor.
Yep. *Journal of a Novel.* I revisit that book regularly.
Happy Birthday! Beautiful photo. I reread poetry, mostly Mary Oliver and collections by James Crews. I rewatch movies. This week we saw Wes Anderson’s new film. I don’t usually fully understand everything the first time. I also rewatch shows that make me laugh. I reread children’s books so they are a part of me. I might try rereading some of my fav books, but my TBR pile is high, and I’m currently Wanted at the library for taking a wee bit too long on the too many books I checked out.
Thanks, Mary! I have done time on the library's "Wanted" list. I totally understand.
I reread books often. I have reread everything by Jane Austen and Will Cather, some multiple times. Newer books I've read at least three times include Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, and Three Junes by Julia Glass (I highly recommend the audiobook of this title!).
As to why I think it can be for any of your well elucidated reasons, but most often it is number 1. Some books are like comfort food, I know why they taste like and, more importantl, how they make me feel, and I crave that feeling.
I reread your novel Casualties, and will definitely reread it again.
One new books I've read and just know I'll read again is Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes, because it was so densely packed with Hawaiian history and culture that even as I was gulping it down I was wanting to go back for seconds. Yeah, I'm a big eater, so this metaphor works.
I will be curious to see how many of our fellow Sparkers (Sparklers? ) like to reread books they love, and will no doubt add to my TBR list.
Great post!
I've read Bel Canto a few times. The opening is one of my favorites ever. Yes, sometimes books are comfort food and that's why I go back to them but lately I'm noticing my choices have to do with seeing if the story has changed for me.
And you're right. It's good to see what people re-read. You never know when you are going to discover a new/old book.